Lock-rod for cards.



Patented July II, I899.

D. E. HUNTER.

LUCK BOD FOR CARDS (Application filed. June 18, 1888.)

EwWEMQMHW dio TAT-ES Unite DAVID It. IIUN"ER, OF CAMBRIDGE,ISIASSACHUSE'I S.

LOCK-ROD rou CARDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,886, dated July 11,1899.

I Application filed June 18, 1898. $611M N (N0 model-l T0 (til whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID E. HUNTER, of Cambridge, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inLock-Rods for Cards, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representinglike parts.

to This invention is an improved lock-rod or vention more particularlydefined in the appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, illustrative of one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section ofa preferred embodiment of my invention shown in operative position in acard-drawer, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 isla top plan view showingthe device removed from the drawer.

The drawer A may be of any usual or preferred kind adapted to receivecards, being herein shown as provided adjacent its front wall a with ausual inclined block b, against which the cards may be tipped in usewhen held in place by the rod 0, which enters the usual perforations inthe cards, as will be readily understood.

The rod 0 may be of any kind desired suitable for the purpose, inasmuchas mypresent invention does not relate to the rod as such, but relatesto the means for retaining and manipulating it. As herein shown, the rodis threaded at c and permanently secured in a plug or socket-piece D,preferably cylindrical in cross-section. Said plug or socket is adaptedto be inserted in a housingd, which may be of any external shapepreferred, and is mortised or otherwise retained in the box.

At its upper end the housing is perforated to receive a movableretaining device or dog d, herein shown as a plunger, and retained in ahollow projection or dome d brazed or otherwise secured to the housing,said plunger being normally held projected by a spring d bearing againstits inner end and retained in the dome.

The plug D has a longitudinal slit or key- .apert'ure d to receive a keyd said slit be ing herein shown as having a curved upper wall d todirect the key. The latter has at its forward end a hook-like prong 01and the socket or plug D has an opening (i to'receive said prong or hookin alinement with. the plunger d when the 'parts are in position to belocked, it being understood that the plunger or device d at such timesdrops into said hole or openingd and locks the rod in the box.

In order that the plug or socket may be au tomatically locked by thedevice 01, I provide the plug with an inclined groove d (shown in sideelevation in Fig. 1 and in top plan, Fig. 2,) up which the plunger mayslide when the plug'is forced into the housing, the plunger droppinginto the hole 61 when the plug has reached its innermost position.

The key,it will be observed,has an obliquelycut lower edge (1 Theoperation of my device is extremely simple and at the same time certainand exthen be in proper position opposite the opening (i and thereuponthe operator simply forces the lower edge of the key forward, therebyswinging the projection d upwardly into the full-line position shown inFig. 1 and forcing the plunger (1 out of the opening d so that the partsare thereby unlocked, leaving the key in the position shown with itshook or projection cl in place within the opening d rigid to act as awithdrawinghook. The operator then simply pulls on the key, and therebywithdraws the plug D and the attached lock-rod C. The key can then bereand scope of my invention.

moved or not, as preferred. When it is desired to lock the cards again,all that is necessary is simply to replace the parts, shoving the plug Dforward, so that the plunger d is permitted to slide up the inclined wayd and snap down into the hole d into locking position.

Itwill be understood that I am not restricted to the precise form andarrangement of parts shown and described, inasmuch as various changes inminor details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit Itwill also be understood that any desired kind of a lockrod may be usedwith my plug, the latter being intended merely to operate and lock therod or rods, whether the latter are of the kind requiring to be drawnentirely out, as herein shown, or simply moved longitudinally orotherwise slightly in order to be released from the cards, and whetherpermanently or otherwise attached or connected o the plug.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

'1. The herein-described device for-locking cards in position,comprising a rod held by a'plug at its outer end, a housing receivingsaid plug and provided with a plunger ordog, said plug having a slot orkey-aperture, and an opening from said key-aperture registering with andadapted to receive said dog, and a key having a hook or projectioncorresponding t.o.said opening and'adapted to disdevice, said plughaving an inclined groove said plug having a slot or key-aperture archedor downwardly curved at its upper forward end, and an opening from saidkey-aperture registering with and adapted to receive said dog, and a keyhaving a hook or projection corresponding to said opening and adapted todislodge said dog therefrom for unlocking the device, substantially asdescribed.

4. The herein-described device for locking cards in position, comprisinga rod held bya plug at its outer end, a housing receiving said plug andprovided with a plunger or dog, a spring normally forcing said doginwardly, said plug having a slot or key-aperture, and an opening fromsaid aperture registering with and adapted to receive said dog, and a 7ckey'having a hook or projection correspond-' ing to said opening andadapted to dislodge said dog therefrom for unlocking the device,substantially as described.

5, The herein-described device forlocking cardsin position, comprisingmeans to engage and retain the cards, in combination with a locking andoperating device therefor, said device comprising a plug, a movable dogarranged to engage and lock said plug, and a key in the form of a hookfor unlocking said dog and simultaneously engaging said plug in positionto operate the same for releasing the cards, substantially described.

In testimony. whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID E. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXWELL, WALTER S. Donn.

